Fabia VRS, Golf or Focus? Family car needed. E-class going..

[StinkyBoy]

It is with a deep heart that today I handed over a further 2.5k to repair the E-class. It needs a new gearbox, radiator and torque converter. I have spent £7k keeping this hunk of junk on the road.

I have the car and I'm getting rid in the next few days.

I need a family car that has enough space for 4-5 adults, excellent mpg and for it to be a bit roomy...Number 1 thing is reliability...

For the most part my wife will be driving it.

Like the title, I have three choices, I don't wish to detract from these choices.

To say I am gutted is an understatement. I will never touch Mercedes again..

Kind Regards

[Podie]

The vRS is quite small for a family car... I can confirm that the mpg is excellent, even when giving some, but I’d consider it suitable for occasionally 4 person use TBH. Might want to look at the Octavia instead. The missus is on her second Fabia vRS and both have been very reliable.

[fathomfive]

As above, an Octavia of sorts sounds like a good bet.

[StinkyBoy]

fathomfive said:

As above, an Octavia of sorts sounds like a good bet.

I think Octavia may be the one then. If only the wife will get over the bloody badge!

Is it super-reliable?

[kambites]

StinkyBoy said:

Is it super-reliable?

Well the oily bits are all just VW, so from that point of view it will be similar to a Golf, Leon or A3. Skodas generally seem to be better screwed together than any of the other VW brands though, so you'll probably have less niggling problems than you would with the others.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 10th June 10:33

[Podie]

kambites said:

StinkyBoy said:

Is it super-reliable?

Well the oily bits are all just VW, so from that point of view it will be similar to a Golf, Leon or A3. Skodas generally seem to be better screwed together than any of the other VW brands though, so you'll probably have less niggling problems than you would with the others.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 10th June 10:33

We've had no problems with ours. Solid, reliable, cheap to run. Must admit, I quite fancy a Superb...

[bdgriffiths]

i have a fabia vrs and it has not missed a single beat. i get 50mpg consistently and thats a mix of economical driving and some not so economical driving.

also if its your thing you can have it mapped to 180bh and 300lb/ft torque for £300 and it turns it into a quick hatch, especially for insurance group 9 and the mpg.

i would seriously recommend one over the golf because its a polo underneath (a baby golf) and you just pay over the tops for badge.

i can get 5 adults in and we are all around the 6 foot mark. boot isnt massive but you can get 2 weeks shopping in.

if you want something a little bigger the octavia would be a good choice, again its a VW underneath just without the inflated price tag

[zakelwe]

Funnily enough I got rid of my old Merc when the gearbox and torque converter went to. Everytime I read in the magazines about how cheap big old German V8 cars to buy I throw the magazine across the room.

Andy

[james_tigerwoods]

The Fabia and the Golf are, ultimately, 2 different classes (as has been alluded to in BD's post above) - For 4-5 adults, I'd put that car to one side as it'll be too small for that - The Golf might be your better bet (if it has to be that car). If the VAG stable is where you're looking, you could consider other cars from there that might fit your requirements including a Bora/Jetta (if you don't mind hideous depreciation) or even a B6 Passat (more car for equivalent Golf money).

I accept that this is a departure from the Fabia, Golf or Focus question - but there seems to be some car size "movement" here (if you include the Octavia)....